Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-09
JUSTICE COURT.
Trial OF William e. Barnett for Bigamy At Jus
tice Walkers Court.

The case of William E Burnett for bigamy
Walkers court The attention that the case
was attracting naturally drew quite a crowd
of persons TO the court room. The seats
within the railing were all occupied by
| women who appeared to take the deepest in
terest in the proceedings The center of
attraction was of course the defendant and
the principal prosecuting witness, hrs
alleged wife. She was sitting near
| the window in the rear of the room, her child
| near by and her relative, Mrs. Abbott, fan
ming her. The defendant appeared utterly
unconcerned about the proceedings, sitting
with his eyes upon the floor and paying no
attention to Mrs. Burnt tt or his child She,
however, seemed to be making special ef-
fort to catch his eye. and gave her testimony
with readiness and frankness
Mrs Burnett was first put upon the stand
and gave clear, concise statement Of the
marital relations existing between her
self ard husband, exhibiting her
marriage certificate, showing that they
were married February 90, 1879, by Rev.
George b. Chester. She also produced a
number Of letters written to herself and
child by Burnett
w. A. Dunning was next put upon the
stand and in the course of his evidence stated
that he was acquainted with the parents Of
both the Burnetts; that her name before
marriage was Young and that she was a
cousin to the defendant He found out that
he was married to Lizzie Adams Of this city
through the marriage notice in the EAGLE,
and seeing this he spoke to Burnett in refer
cnce to it, whom the latter plead that the pa
per should not be sent back to his home.
Mrs. Hattie Abbot, an aunt of Mrs. Bur-
nett's was the next witness. She knew both
parties. Burnett came to her just after she
had seen the marriage notice in the EALGE
and she asked him if he was aware he had
committed criminal offense. He said that
he had had row With hi, folks at home and
that it was all right under the laws OF New
York for him to come here and marry Lizzie
Adams, and Mag and he had agreed to live
separate and apart. He plead with her
not to let his people know anything of it, as
"Mag would make it hot for him." "But
you have no divorces' said Mrs. Burnett.
II know it, was the reply; but nothing can
be done unless Mag comes out here; and she
could not scrape toge Their ten cents to save
) her life" "How old are you Mrs. BurnettY'
inquired the prosecutor. "Well, I was born
in 1859 and married in 1879" "How old is
your husbands" "He was born in 1856 and
was married in the same year" Her reply
brought out quite laugh.
The justice, after hearing the evidence,
bound him over to the district court in the
sum of 81 600, and in default of it to go to
Jail. The refusal of the justice to grant a
reduction of the bond elected prolonged
applause.
A colored man who had quarreled with the
condutor Of the morton line Sunday after
noon, and because tie latter had demanded
his fare for the ride struck him severe
blow, was brought into Barrett's court and
fined s. and costs.
In the evening a man was brought into
Judge Walkers, charged with assaulting a
hack driver at Eldridge's park. He paid $40
and costs for the offense.